Summer study abroad
October 28, 2018
China
Students in a study-abroad program in China this summer found that it changed their perceptions of Chinese culture, business, and government and challenged their Western world views, among other things. The program combined lectures, workshops, and visits to businesses and universities with cultural and historic excursions. The group also gained insights from Virginia Tech alumni living and/or working in China.
Europe
The “Business and Culture in Europe” study-abroad program this summer took in many of the most popular cities on the continent. Students compared business and cultural practices and approaches among the countries visited — Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and Italy — and with the U.S. They examined differences in pricing and products between Europe and home and discussed how their interaction with multiple nationalities affected their experience and the role of an American student abroad. The program was led by business information technology faculty members Lance Matheson and Jay Teets.
A section of the Berlin wall in Potsdamer Platz: The wall is covered with chewing gum. From left: Mallory Walsh, Paige Kemsey, Leah Lilley. (Photo credit: Lance Matheson)
At the ruins of St. Paul's in Macau. Front Row: Jamie Barlow, Allison Desantis, Jenna Nojaim, Maddie Altobelli, Eileen Teng. Back Row: Jack Speroni, Jennifer Clevenger, Philip Williams, Alex Smith (ECAS '14), the group's Chinese Language Institute guide. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Clevenger)
Bird's Nest: In Beijing, the students visited the National Stadium, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics. From left: Jack Speroni, Jamie Barlow, Jenna Nojaim, Philip Williams, Maddie Altobelli, Allison Sesantis, Eileen Teng. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Clevenger)